Day 4

Drive about 3.5 hours to Shidong to attend Sister’s Meal Festival. (the festival usually begins after 11:00am because villagers will come to Shidong from different villages, and it takes time.). Keep driving to Zhenyuan County. Meals: Breakfast, Dinner; Accommodation.

Shidong, China

Day 5

Morning visit the Black Dragon Cave, a beautiful complex old building which combines three different religions–Confucianism, Buddhism and Taoism. Walk in the ancient town, experience the daily life of local people. Drive back to Guiyang, enroute visit Huangping Feiyun Cliff. Meals: Breakfast; Lunch; Dinner; Accommodation.

Black Dragon Cave, China

Day 6

Drive Guiyang to Huangguoshu (2.5 hr) Morning drive for 1.5 hours to reach Tianlong Village. The ancestors of these villagers migrated from Jiangxi Province to Guizhou Province during the Ming Dynasty (1368 – 1644). Women here are still dressed in traditional Ming dynasty attire and houses remain faithful to the Ming architectural styles. We will watch a local opera performance called ‘Ground Opera’, famed for the performers’ symbolic masks. Afternoon enjoy a visit to the spectacular Huangguoshu Waterfall, which at 223 feet in height and 276 feet in width, is the biggest in Asia. You will walk along a well-cut cliff path where you can view the water curtain from behind. The walk will be 1-1.5 hours along well-cut steps. Meals: Breakfast, Dinner; Accommodation.

Huangguoshu Waterfall, China

Day 7

Drive Huangguoshu to Xinyi (5hrs) Enroute we’ll visit supernatural physiognomy of calcareously, the Valley of Panjiang as well as the black sect of Miao in Zhenfeng Countywith their unique frilled skirts and dazzling silver decorations. Upon arrival in Xingyi visit Maling River Gorge Scenic Spot where you’ll see waterfall and the natural views which looks like Chinese painting. Meals: Breakfast, Dinner; Accommodation.

Maling River, China

Yunnan

Day 8

Xingyi to Stone Forest to Kunming (7 hrs) Start early for drive to Stone Forest. Meet Yunnnan guide and driver from Kunming there. The Stone Forest , one of China’s most famous scenic spots is located in the Lunan Autonomous County of Yi Nationality, about 150km southeast of Kunming. It is a massive collection of grey limestone pillars, split by rain water and eroded to their present fanciful forms. Covering a total area of 350 square kilometer, it includes the big and small stone forests, Meals: Breakfast, Dinner; Accommodation.

Yunnan, China

Day 9

Fly Kunming to Lijiang Transfer to airport for the flight to Lijiang, former capital of the famed Naxi Kingdom. The Old Town is a maze of cobblestone streets, narrow canals and decorative wooden houses. Excursion to the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain (Yak Meadow) to see the much famed thirteen peaks. En route visit the Baisha village, the ancient capital town of the Naxi Kingdom. In the afternoon, a walk up to the Black Dragon Pond to have a look at the renowned Moon Embracing Pavilion, free time sightseeing of the Old Town of Lijiang. In the evening, a performance of the local Naxi orchestra, a unique and entertaining musical experience (pending schedule). Meals: Breakfast, Dinner; Accommodation.

Baisha village, China

Day 10

Drive Lijiang-Luguhu Lake Drive on a new road to Lugu Lake which overlaps the Yunann Sichuan border and is a center for Tibetans, Yi and Mosuo villages. Upon arrival , you will meet some Mosuo families and cruise on the Lugu Lake in a local one-tree-boat. Lunch en route and dinner at local restaurant or with local people. In the evening , you may join the bonfire of the people in the village. Meals: Breakfast, Dinner; Accommodation.

The ancient and mysterious “Land of Grace Girls” – Lugu Lake is situated at the junction of Southwest Sichuan and Northwest Yunnan, with altitude of 2,685 meters. The area of the lake surface is 52 square kilometers. Being tucked away in this remote area has preserved the natural environment surrounding the lake, and saved its waters from pollution. The lake’s shores are home to the ethnic Mosuo people, branch of the Naxi. Mosuo people have been living by Lugu Lake since 111 B.C. Over the centuries they have maintained many of their ancient traditions, including their unique mating custom. Under a matriarchy, both males and females live with their mothers and do not marry, yet keep a casual cohabitation relationship. Mosuo women can freely choose their lovers without any interference. Their love lives are not affected by outdated concepts, money, social status, religion or family clans. Women can also switch partners whenever they choose. Each Mosuo man sets out to meet his lover at night, returns early the next morning and helps the matriarchal family carry out its farm work. Men are always the guests of women’s families. Each family is led by the grandmother of the oldest generation, and daily life is run by a capable female member, who also controls the family purse. The uncles are in charge of production and also take care of the children born by the females out of their “visiting marriage.”

Mosuo families, China

Day 11

Drive Lugu Lake-Yongning-Lugu Lake In the morning, drive to Yongning, an important trade center for minorities in between Yunnan and Sichuan. Enjoy its colorful market , and continue your discovery of the villages in the area. You will also visit eh Zha Mei Monastery, entirely built in wood, dating back to the 17th century. Meals: Breakfast, Dinner; Accommodation: 3 star hotel May 10 Day 12: Drive Lugu Lake-Lijiang (5-6 hrs) After lunch, we take a closer look at Old Town Lijiang and discover more about the Naxi people and their very ancient culture. Also visit the Dognba Museum. Meals: Breakfast, Dinner; Accommodation.

Yongning, China

Day13

Lijiang- Tiger Leaping Gorge- Lijiang Drive the First Bend of Yangts River. After lunch, continue to the Tiger Leaping Gorge. Located at the junction of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau and Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau, it sis one of Yunnan’s popular scenic spots. The gorge itself is tucked neatly between the Yulong Snow Mountain and Haba Snow Mountain, which surround its two sides. The 17-km-long gorge is divided into three segments with an aggregate fall of 210 meters. Meals: Breakfast, Dinner; Accommodation.